Vanity case



April 23, 1929. LUNGREN 1,709,990

VANI TY CASE Filed Sept. 16, 1,927 2 Sheet-Sheet fa E7 w ff 7 431 r 1 I k 64 a 41 53 43/ f2 J 46 v W l Patented Apr. 23,1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR N. LUNGREN, OF GHICAeGb, ILLINOIS.

VANITY CASE.

Application filed September 16, 1927. Serial No. 219,985.

This invention relates to vanity cases or containers which are adapted to be used for containing and dispensing toilet powder or cosmetic materials in convenient. form.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient vanity case or toilet article comprising one or more containers which are'suitable for cont-aining and dispensing toilet powder or cos metic materials in convenientform for use by ladies for improving their appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an in'iproved vanity case of compact and attractive form and appea 'ance, which is adapted to contain a powder-puff, and one or more containers for containing toilet powder or cosmetic materials which may include toilet powder and lip stick, or eyebrow pencil, or the like, in such form as to be convenient for-use while the box is open and the attached powder-containers exposed, and to enable the attached containers and dispensers to be refilled with facility when required and conveniently secured and enclosed within the outer casing or box.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof.

The invention consists in the features, com-v binations, construction and arrangement. of parts, and mechanism ,herein describedand claimed.

In the :ueompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a top view of an improved vanity case constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same with the cover open;

Fig. 9. is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, taken on line 2- -2 of said figure, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and showing the hinged connection between the box body and cover, and the inner hinged containersupporting member, and means for tilting the latter with the containers supported thereb Fig. t is a view in central longitudinal section taken through the axial center of one of the removable cartridge shells or containerbodies having a spring-pressed plunger at the discharge end and an open receiving end which is adapted to be closed by the hinged cap or socket which supports such shell within the outer casing;

Fi 5 is a view in transverse section, taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a top view of a modified form of vanity case, showing the same with the cover open;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fi 6, taken on line 77 ofsaid figure, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view in longitudinal section taken through the center of one of the container shells shown in Fig. 7, and I Fig. 9 is a view in transverse section, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

1n constructing an improved vanity case in accordance with this invention, I provide anouter casing 1 which consists of or comprises a box 2 having a flanged cover 3 attached thereto, by preference, by means of a hinge 4 having a hinge member or leaf 5 attached to the box body 2, a hinge member or leaf (5 attached to the marginal flanged portion of the lid or cover 3, and a hinge pin 7 extending through openings in the knuckles or eyes of said hinge members and forming a. pivotal connection between the same. The pi vet-ally connected hinge members thus form a hinged connection between the box body and cover, both of which, are, by preference,

substantiallyflat and rectangular, with somewhat rounded corners, the flange of the cover being adapted to fit over the rim of the box body when the receptacle is closed.

The casing or receptacle lis formed, by preference, of sheet metal. The box body is adapted to contain a powder puff 8 or other desired articles of such a character as to leave room for the containers for holding toilet powder and lip-stick or eyebrow pencil or other desired cosmetic materials or articles within the receptacle; and the cover 8 is adapted to contain a mirror 9. Or the inner surface of the cover may be polished, to form aiuirror.

An inner hinged container-supporting cap. 7

too

orsocket member 10 is provided, having a perforated hinge portion or eye 11 thereon or formed integrally therewith. This central perforated hinge-member or eye 11 is adapted to extend between the eyes or perforated knuckles of the hinge members and 6. And the hinge pin 7 extends through the opening in said central'hinge-member 11 and has its opposite ends supported in the openings in the said hinge-members5 and 6. So that the hinge may be said to have three leaves or pivotally connected hinge members 5, 6 and 11. The hinge member 11 is provided with a fiat projecting, tripping or tilting finger 12 which is in the form of a rigid finger or boss on or integral with said hinge member 11 and extends between the hinge members or leaves 5 and 6 and between the connected margins of the box and cover when the box is open, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This finger 12 is for the purpose of tilting the hinged containersupporting cap or socket member 10, and the containers supported thereon, to inclined position or tilted position with respect to the box body when the box is open, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the discharge ends of the toilet-powder containers 13 and 14, and the lip-stick or eyebrow pencil container 15 sup ported on the hinged supporting cap or socket member will be above the level of the top margins or rims of the box body and flanged cover when the cover is opened. The tilting finger 12 is therefore disposed at such an angle with respect to the axes of the hinged containers 13, 14 and 15, that when the latter are lying flat within the box, with the lid or cover closed, there will be sufiicient space between the finger 12 and the leaf of the hinge member 5 on the box, to permit the required extent of movement of the finger for tilting the inner hinged container-supporting cap or socket member 10 and the containers 13, 14. and thereon, to the tilted position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 when the receptacle is opened.

The finger 12 is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the plane in which the axes of the containers 13, 14 and 15 are located, and in such relation to the box and cover and the hinge members 5 and 6, that, in the operation of opening the receptacle by swinging the cover from its closed position to its wide-opened position, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the hinge member or leaf 6 or the flange portion of the cover on which said hinge member is mounted, will engage the finger 12 before the wide-opened position of the cover is reached, and will rock or partially rotate said finger and said hinged cap or socket member 10 about the axis formed by the hinge pin 7 until the finger 12 and said hinged member 10 are moved to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the rims or margins of the box and flanged cover, by preference, in the same plane. and the discharge ends of the containers 13. 14 and 15 exposed and projecting outward above and beyond the top rim of the box.

The discharge ends of the tilted containers are thus in ex osed projecting position and are convenient y accessible and adapted to be opened. and closed conveniently and with facility, and to permit a powder putt to be applied to the discharge ends of the containers and to receive material therefrom in the desired quantities while the device is held in one hand of the operator and the powder puff in the other, with-the mirror in position for con-' venient use. a

The inner hinged cap or socket member 10 is, by preference, p'rovided with one or more sockets or caps 16 and 17 which are adapted to form hinged supporting caps or closures for the tubular containers 13 and 15, respectively, which containers may he of identical construction, each comprising, by preference, a tubular metallic shell or cartridge 18 which is preferably oval in cross-section, and has an open receiving end 19 which fits snugly but removably in the corresponding hinged cap, the peripheral rim of which is of like contour with the peripheral wall of the removable shell or cartridge. Each tube or cartridge shell 18 has an annular end flange 20 at its discharge end, which is, by preference tapered and adapted to formv a seat for a springpressed plunger 21 having a similarly shaped, seat-engaging face. The plunger 21 is, by preference, truncated-cone shaped and extends through and projects endwise beyond the discharge opening which is surrounded by the flange 20, and-is yieldingly held in passage-closing position by means of a compression spring 22 located in the tube, one end of said spring being attached to the stem 23 of the plunger, and the other end being, by preference, attached tothe tube 18 and removable with the tube when the tube is removed from its supporting cap or socket. The inner peripheral margin 24 of the plungor is of less diameter or spaced apart from the inner face of the tube, so as to provide sufiicient space between the plunger and the tubular wall and seat to permit the passage of toilet-powder or rouge in suitably regulated quantities through the plunger-regulated discharge opening, when the plunger is pressed inward fromits seat against the ten- :ion of the spring to passage-opening posi- The hinged container-supporting member 10 is, by preference, in the form of a flat or angular metallic plate which extends along the sides of the caps or sockets 13, 14 and 15,

supporting member on which the con tainers 13, 14 and 15 are removably mounted as already described. The central tubular socket 15 is adapted to contain a lip-stick or eyebrow pencil which may he of the usual or ordinary form to be found in the open market,the socket 15 being provided with a peripheral end notch 26' through which" a boss 27 on the lip-stick projects, to facilitate the removaliof the latter. I The'lip-stick may be enclosed with a metal tube 28 which is adapted to be removablyinserted in the open notched end of the tube 15. And the tube may be refilled if desired. A spring catch 29 on the rim of the box serves to hold the cover closed. And to open the cover itis only necessary to press the spring catch inward by pressing upon the projecting boss 30 on the spring orcatch.

In Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, is shown another improved form of vanity case which is constructed as follows:

An outer metallic'casing 31 is provided which comprises a flat substantially rectan- C tached thereto by means of a hinge 34. The hinge may be of any ordinary or suitable form, and has a leaf 35 attached to the box, and a leaf 36 attached to the flanged cover, said hinge-members being pivotally connected by a hinge pin37. The box is adapted to contain a powder puff 38; and the cover is adapted to contain a mirror 39. Or the inner. surface of the cover may be polished and serve as a mirror. A hinged container-supporting cap or socket member 40, similar to the containersupporting member 10 already described, is attached to the inside of the box 32 on the side opposite the hinge 34 which connects the box and cover. This container=supporting cap or socket member 40 is hinged to the box body by-means of a hinge knuckle or eye 41 on or integral with the container-supporting member 40, which may be said to. form one of the leaves of a hinge, a hinge member or leaf 42 attached to the interior of the box, and a hinge pin 43 which extends through openings in the knuckles or eyes 44 of the leaf 42 and the opening in the eye or knuckle 41 on the container-supporting member 40.

The container-supporting member 40, in the form shown in the drawings, comprises an angular metallic plate which is adapted to be enclosed within the casing or box when the latter is closed, and forms a hinged suport for toilet-powder and rouge containers 43 and 44 and lip-stick or eyebrow pencil container 45 which are supported on and adapted to swing into and out of the box 32 with said hinged container-supporting member 40. The hinged container-supporting member 40 has a plurality of tubular" caps or sockets 4t) and 47 thereon, which, are adapted to admit and (it over the open ends o'f the con ular box 32 having a flanged cover 33 at-' cap tainer tubes 43 and 44; and the central tubular cap. or socket 45 located between the sockets 46 and 47, for containing a lip-stick, s provided atits open end with a longitudinal peripheral notch through which a boss 49 on the lip-stick or metallic tubular lip-stick holder 50 projects, to facilitate the removal of the lip-stick from said central socket or container 45. i e

The tubular caps or sockets 45, 46 "and 4'7 are thus allmounted on the same hinged support 40, and are connected by the latter, the axes of said connected caps or sockets being parallel and located in the same plane. The L hinge knuckle or eye41 has'a perforated angular end portion 51 which is spaced apart from the plate or angular main body portion 52 of the container-supporting member 40,

-- so as to provide a space 53 between said parts 51 and 52 adapted to admit the flange or rim of the box 82, and permit the hinge member 41 to extend over and across the rim of the box when the hinged containers are swung to their extended position outside of the box. A flat spring 54 extends between the side wall or flange of the box and the perforated angular portion 51 of the hinge member-41,.and in yielding engagement with perforated portion 51, the base 55 of said spring being firmly attached t-o-the inside of the box. The spring 54 is thus adapted to yieldingly engage one side or margin of the perforated angular hinge member 51 when the hinged container-supporting member 40 and the containers supported thereby are swung into position to extend over and outside of the rim of the box, and to yieldingly engage the opposite side or'margin of said angular hinge portion or member 51 and tend to releasably hold the hinged container-supporting member 40 and the containers thereon inside of the box, with their axes all in thesame plane between and in parallel relation to the top and bottom walls of the box when it is closed; 7

Each of the containers 43 and 44 comprises a tubular shell or cartridge which has an open receiving end 56 adapted to (it snugly but removably in the correspondinghinged or socket 46 or 47, as the case may be. Each of these removable tubes or cartridge shells has an annular end flange 58 at its discharge end, which is, by preference tapered and adapted to form. a closely fitting'seat for wise beyond the discharge opening for which it serves as a closure, and 1s yieldingly held in passage-closing position by means of a compression spring 60 located within the tube.

One end of said spring is attached to the plunger, and the other end, by preference, to the inner open end portion of the tube, so as the said angular to be removable with the tube from the hinged support 40, when the tube is to be refilled. (See Fig. 8).

The plunger 59 is provided with an annular inner flange or skirt 61 having openings 62 therein on the inside of the chamber formed by the container or dispenser tube. The plunger at its widest part, and the skirt are of slightlyless diameter than the inner diameter of the tube in which the plunger is mounted. An annular space is thus provided between the skirt and the adjacent inner pe ripheral face of the tube, for permitting the. powder to be discharged from the discharge end of the tube in suitable quantities. The

skirt prevents the tilting of the plunger.

It is highly important and desirable that the tubular containers and the spring-pressed plungers and plunger-controlled discharge openings be of such construction and contour and relative sizes and proportions that the powder will be discharged in uniformly dis tributed finely divided particles in a uniformly aerated condition, and with the particles of powder intermixed with air in the desired proportions, and without discharging any relatively dense masses of powder or mass of unequal or nonuniform density. It has been found in practice that in order to accomplish these highly desirable results and objects, the extreme outside diameter or peripheral margin of each plunger21 or 59, as the case may be, should be only very slightly less than the inside diameter ofthe tube in which the plunger is mounted, for example. .020 to .030, as measured in inches. The plunger should project from the tube about five-sixteenths of an inch, so as to provide adequate travel when the same is depressed to open the discharge opening. The discharge apening should be as nearly as practicable as large in diameter as the body of the tube, the tapered seat or flange surrounding the opening being as narrow as possible while permitting the proper seat to be provided for the plunger. The included angle of the tapered seat is somewhat less than the included angle of the end of the tube at the opening, so that a line contact is effected between the plunger and the seat. The plunger should be of sufiicient diameter to raise substantially the entire mass of powder, and should fit sufiiciently closely within the surrounding spaced-apart wall of the tube to cause the air within the tube to be slightly compressed when the plunger is pressed inward; and the uniformly aerated powder will be discharged in evenly distributed particles with the air while the latter is forced out through the discharge opening and permitted to expand.

In the construction shown in the drawings, each of the spring-pressed plungers in the discharge openings of the tubular containers, has a peripheral marginal portion at its wide inner end. which extends within the container preferably annular, passage between said peripheral margin of the plunger and the inner surface of the surrounding container wall.

This restricted passage thus formed inside of the container, communicates with the plunger-controlled outlet opening and is, by preference, of less area in cross-section than said outer opening and of much less area in crosssection than the inner face or end of the plunger. Each tubular container with its spring-pressed plunger and restricted out- Let passage between the powder-containing chamber and the plunger-controlled discharge opening, thus comprises or includes means whereby the air is caused to be compressed inside of the container While the restricted passage is open, and whereby the air and uniformly aerated powder are discharged in suitable quantities and proportions and in an etlicient manner.

The helical coiled spring for yieldingly holding the plunger in passage-closing position is, by preference, mounted within and at the opposite end of the powder-containing chamber from the plunger and discharge opening, and in position to surround the powder contained in the chamber, with only sufficient play between the helical coils of the spring and the inner face ofthe container wall to permit thedesired freedom of movement of the spring as it is compressed or permitted to expand. The end of the spring nearest the plunger is connected with the center of the plunger by means of a straight wire which extends centrally of the tube from the coiled portion of the spring to the central plunger stem. Means is thus provided whereby the uniformly aerated powder is enabledto pass lengthwise of the tube through the restricted opening between the plunger and the inner wall of the container and through the plunger-controlled discharge opening without passing through or between the coils of the helical spring. The powder is thus discharged in a uniformly dili'uscd and uniformly aerated condition, and its passage is not interfered with or obstructed by the coils of the spring.

I claim:

1. In a vanity case having a box and a cover in hinged engagement with the box, the combination of a tubular container having a receiving opening at one end and a discharge opening at its opposite end, and a hinged container-supporting member in hinged engagement with the box and in supporting engagement with and adapted to form a closure for the receiving opening of said tubular container.

2. In a vanity case having a box and a cover in hinged engagement with the box, the combination of a tubular container having a receiving opening at one end and a plunger-controlled discharge opening at its opposite end, and a hinged container-sup ber in hinged engagementwith the box and in supporting engagement with and formmg a closure for the receiving opening of said tubular container.

4. In a vanity case having a box and a cover in hinged engagement with the box,

the combination of a plurality of tubular containers each havin a receiving opening at one end and a disdharge opening at the opposite end, and a hinged container-supporting member in hinged engagement with. the box and in supporting engagement with and adapted to connect and tor-ma closure for the receiving openings of both of said tubular containers.

5. In a vanity case having a-box and a I 1 cover in hingedengagement with the box,

at one end, and a hinged the combination of a plurality of tubular containers each having a discharge opening container-supporting member'in hinged engagement with the box and in supporting engagement with said tubular containers, and including means for connecting and holding said containers in parallel relationwith their axes all in the same plane between and parallel to the top and bottom of the box and at right angles to the axis ofthe hinged container-support-- ing member. a

6. In a device of the class described comprising a box and a cover in hinged engagement with the. box, the combination of a p rality of tubular containers each having a discharge opening at one end, a springpressed plunger for opening and closing each of said discharge openings respectively, and a hinged container-supporting member in hinged engagement with the box and in supporting cngagementwith said tubular containers, said hinged supporting member including means for connecting and holding said containers in parallel relation with theirv axes in the same plane between and substantially parallel to the top and bottom of the box and at right angles to the axis of the hinged container-supporting member.

7. In a vanity case having a box and a cover in hinged engagement with the box, the combination of a plurality of tubular said mating hinge members, a tubular eon- .ment with said tubular container.

containers each having a receiving opening at one end and a discharge opening at its opposite end, a spring-pressed plunger for each of said discharge openings, and a hinged container-supporting member in hinged engagement with the box and in supporting engagement with and "adapted to connect and form a closure for the receiving openings of said tubular containers.

8. In a vanity case having a box and cover, the combination of a hinge comprising a hinge member on the box, a mating hinge member on the cover, and a hinge pin extending through openings in and connecting tainer having a discharge opening at one end, and a hinged container-supporting member mounted on and in hinged engagement with said hinge pin and in supporting engage- 9. In a vanity case having a box and cover, the combination of a hinge comprising a hinge member on the box, a mating hinge member on the'cover, and a hinge pin operatively connecting said hinge members, a tubular container having a receiving opening at one end and a discharge opening at the opposite end, and a hinged container-support ing member mounted on and in hinged engagement with said hinge pin and in sup- 5 porting engagement with and acting to form a closure for the receiving opening of said tubular container.

10. In a vanity case having a box and cover, the combination of a hinge comprising a hinge member on the box, a mating hinge member on the cover, and a hinge pin operatively connecting said hinge members, a tubular container having a receiving opening at one end and provided with a plungercontrolled discharge opening at its opposite end, and a hinged container-supporting cap member located within said box and mounted on and in hinged engagement with said hinge pin and in supporting engagement with and acting to form a closure for the receiving opening of said tubular container.

11. In a vanity case having a box and cover, the combination of a hinge attached to and connecting the box and cover, an inner container adapted to be enclosed within the box, a hinged container-supporting member in supporting engagement with said inner container, and means associated with said hinged container-supporting member and adapted to be operativelyengaged by the cover, for tilting said hinged container-supporting member and inner container.

12. In a vanity case having a box and cover, the combination of a hinge attached to and connecting the box and cover, an inner container adapted to be enclosed within the box, a hinged container-supporting member in supporting engagement with said inner container, and a finger associated with said hinged container-supporting member and having a cover-engaging portion outside of the box and adapted to be operated by the cover, for tilting said hinged containersupporting member and inner container.

13. In a vanity case having a box and 'cover, the combination of a hinge attached to and connecting the box and cover, aninner container adapted to be enclosed within the box, a. hinged container-supporting member pivotally connected with said hinge and in supporting engagement with said inner container, and a projecting finger on said hinged container-supporting member and extending outside of the box, for tilting said hinged container-supporting member and 1nner container when the cover is raised.

14. In a vanity case having a box and cover, the combination ofa hinge comprising a hinge member on the box, a mating hinge member on the cover, and a hinge pin operatively connecting said hinge members, a tubular container having a receiving opening at one end and a discharge opening at its opposite end, a spring-pressed plunger projecting through and forming a closure for said discharge opening, and a hinged container-supporting member located Within said box and mounted on and in hinged engagement with said hinge pm which connects the box and cover, said hinged supporting member including means for forming a closure for the receiving opening of said tubular container.

15. In a vanity case having a box and cover, the combination of a hinge comprising a hinge member on the box, a mating hinge member on the cover, and a hinge pin operatively connected with and connecting said hinge members, a plurality of tubular containers each having a receiving opening at one end and a discharge opening at its opposite end, a closure member for each of said dis- I charge openings, and a hinged container-supporting member located Within said box and mounted on and in hinged engagement with hinge member on the cover, and a hinge pin opei'atively connecting said hinge members, a plurality of tubular containers each having a receiving opening at one end and a discharge opening at its opposite end, a springpressed plunger for each of said discharge openings, and a hinged container-supporting member located within said box and mounted on and in engagement with said hinge pin,said hinged container-supporting member comprising a plurality of sockets in engagement with and adapted to support and form closures for the receiving openings of said tubular containers.

17. In a vanity case having a box and cover, the combination of a hinge comprising a hinge member on the box and a mating hinge member on the cover, and a hinge pin operatively connected with and connecting said mating hinge members, a plurality of tubular containers each having a discharge opening at one end, means for closing said discharge opcnings, a hinged container-supporting member located within the box and mounted on and in hinged engagement with said hinge pin and in supporting engagement with said tubular contain rs, said hinged supporting member including means for con necting and holding said tubular containers Within the box in parallel relation to each other and with their axes 111 in the same plane and at right angles to the axis of said hinged container-supporting member and said hinge pin.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook gnd zstate of Illinois, this 31st day of August,

ARTHUR N. LUNGREN. 

